Dharma Talks

Debra Seido Martin is Zen West's Guiding Teacher. She was transmitted in 2009 by Kyogen Carlson, late Abbott of Dharma Rain Zen Center. Seido is an organic farmer and psychotherapist devoted to the wild and giving space of practice and grace of the land. She carries forward her teacher’s directive to “ordain into your life.”

Karma and Tunnel Digging Roshi

Seido retells a story set in ancient Japan that her teacher often told to illustrate what we mean when we say something “purifies karma.”...

Oct 6, 2023

What Blocks the Generous Heart?

Seido continues to explore the obstacles to realizing dana paramita – the perfection of generosity and giving as part of the fall Ango...

Sep 22, 2023

A Walk into the Six Perfections

Seido gives an introduction here to the six perfections, generosity, ethical action, patience, effort, meditation and wisdom, our fall...

Sep 16, 2023

Zazen: The Koan Realized

As the sangha transitions into fall Ango from “koan summer,” Seido returns to zazen ,the “koan realized,” as Dogen Zenji calls it in...

Sep 15, 2023

Koan Summer: Sesshin – Oh No! Oh Yes!

Seido reflects on the recent sesshin facing the challenges of thunder storms, fires, poor air quality, hornets, injuries and then some...

Sep 1, 2023

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